Loading characteristics of pillars in multiple-seam mining operations. Report of Investigations/1988

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6500213

Chekan, G J; Matetic, R J

The Bureau of Mines, in an effort to improve resource conservation, mine planning and development, is currently investigating the loading behavior of pillars in multiple-seam developments. The simultaneous mining of two or more coalbeds may cause instability between room-and-pillar operations resulting in an interaction known as pillar load transfer. Although pillars may be adequately designed for single-seam mining, the development of a second seam may complicate loading conditions in both operations. If pillars are not adequately designed to contend with this load transfer, failure of the mine structure may result. To improve multiple-seam development and pillar design, the Bureau studied the loading characteristics of pillars in three separate multiple-seam operations. In all three cases, instrumented pillars recorded increasing pressure after development of the second seam. Increases in the average pillar pressure ranged from 7 to 110% over predicted overburden loads.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6500213
• Report Number(s): PB-90-268855/XAB; BUMINES-RI--9173
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012031* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Strata Mechanics & Control-- (1987-)
COAL DEPOSITS
COAL MINING
COAL SEAMS
DESIGN
DYNAMIC LOADS
FUNCTIONS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
PRESSURIZATION
RESOURCES
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
ROOM AND PILLAR MINING
STRATA CONTROL
STRESS ANALYSIS
SUPPORT PILLARS
UNDERGROUND MINING
US BUREAU OF MINES
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS